We do not want to lose what we love about Selby Gardens.

Selby Gardens wants to become a commercial event and party center, with a block-long high-rise parking garage, and a large elite destination restaurant. This project will forever intrude upon Marie Selby’s lovely garden.

111 mature trees, including 5 grand oaks, will be removed to make way for this concrete project. 25% of trees on the East side of the Selby property will be destroyed.

The “skygarden” actually is a one-acre 83.5-foot high (equal to 8 stories with 5 parking levels), block long, paid parking garage. It will serve as a pedestal for a 10,000 square- foot roof top restaurant and event/party space, with an exclusive, long term deal given to Michael Klauber.

The touted 50 percent increase in garden space actually includes roads, paving, and buildings not open to the public.

Selby Gardens is requesting a change to the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan to the city’s MOST INTENSIVE USE normally reserved for airports, hospitals and sports arenas and a rezoning to a commercial and highly intensive use. This land use category – the Metropolitan Regional Center—is even more intense than downtown Sarasota.

There are flexible solutions to Selby Garden’s parking needs that don’t require a massive garage. The huge garage is simply a justification for turning the property into a highly commercial use AND THEY PLAN TO FILL THAT GARAGE EVERY DAY AND NIGHT resulting in massive traffic congestion at Orange Avenue and Mound Street.

Marie Selby was passionate about gardening, and she left her property of “a public garden for the people of Sarasota” -- a public that is going to be priced out of access. Now Marie’s good name and her tranquil garden are being used to justify a commercial event and party center.

Please sign this Petition to say NO to this plan that is incompatible with neighborhoods, traffic, safety and the needs and wants of the people of Sarasota.

NO to intense urban development imposing upon neighborhoods.

NO to the concrete garden.

=============================

FIND OUT MORE

To learn more about why we feel that Selby Gardens should STAY a garden, growing plants and trees rather than becoming an overdeveloped commercial center, visit our website at:

sellingoutselby.com

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Email the City Commissioners and share your thoughts at commissioners@sarasotafl.gov

2. Like and SHARE our Facebook page to stay up to date on this issue.

3. Write to the Planning Board and express your opposition:

Chair – Eileen Walsh Normile (Eileen.Normile@sarasotafl.gov)
Vice-chair – Damien Blumetti (Damien.Blumetti@sarasotafl.gov)
Patrick Gannon (Patrick.Gannon@sarasotafl.gov)
David Morriss (David.Morriss@sarasotafl.gov)
Kathy Kelley Ohlrich (Kathy.KelleyOhlrich@sarasotafl.gov)

4. Write a letter to the editor to our local papers:

Sarasota Herald Tribune:
https://www.heraldtribune.com/opinion/99999999/sen...

SRQ Daily: Jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The Observer:https://ndsmcobserver.com/letters-to-the-editor/
& copy to sarasotaletters@yourobserver.com

5. Schedule one on one meeting with City Commissioners to discuss the problem and voice
your opposition. You can call City Hall at 365-2200 to schedule.

Mayor Liz Alpert (District 2) Liz.Alpert@sarasotafl.gov
Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch Jen.Ahearn-Koch@sarasotafl.gov
Commissioner Willie Shaw (District 1) Willie.Shaw@sarasotafl.gov
Commissioner Hagen Brody Hagen.Brody@sarasotafl.gov
Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie (District 3) Shelli.FreelandEddie@sarasotafl.gov